Alright, fellas. Here goes nothing.
First let's just start off with a quick overview of what the Big 12 has to offer.
Contenders:
OSU: returning 2 QB's with significant experience in what has really proved to be a plug and play offensive system. returns 7 starters on D. deserving of getting the nod as the #1 team in the media poll.
OU: replacing jones after his 13th year of eligibility expired. belldozer time, can he throw? can he handle snaps inside the 5 yd. line?
. i feel bell will go through some growing pains throughout his first year as a starter, but by the end of the year he will be fine. what about the defense? got totally gashed at the end of the season.
TCU: dominant defense that returns 9 starters. pachall being back is huge. led them to an 11-2 record in 2011. he's the wildcard. him coming back is the difference from an 10-11 win team or a 7 win team.
BU: offense shouldn't miss much of a beat. defense should be improved. but even if it is improved it will still be among the worst in the big 12.
KSU: we all really know what the deal is here. #life or waters? i say waters. accurate QB, winner. defense has holes all over it, but does return experience at some key positions. the secondary should be alright.
UT: most experienced QB. talented on defense. most talented team in the big 12? probably? will they find a way to blow it? who knows. another 8-4 team probably leads to mack "retiring".
The rest:
KU: JUCO city. Heaps will be better than Chryst. but that isn't much of an endorsement. competitive in a few games last year, wouldn't rule out a conference win for them. if not, weis gone? OregonHawk?
ISU: rhodes always seems to go bowling and upset a top 25 team or two. this year he'll have his work cut out for him. Probably has the worst QB in the conference, where they had the second worst offense last year. will miss their 2 stud LB's.
TTU: dreamboat coach. will always be dangerous because of that O. defense will struggle. it'll be interesting to see how KK does in his first year as HC.
WVU: who will be QB? who will replace bailey and austin? expect their offense to do more work on the ground. defense should be better, but will still be one of the worst in the conference. deforest getting off the headset as DC shouldn't hurt.
ALRIGHT so there's the brief rundown. Now the projections.
1. OSU 8-1 (@UT)
2. KSU 7-2 (@OSU, vs. OU)
T3: BU 6-3 (@ KSU, @TCU, vs. OSU)
T3: UT 6-3 (vs. KSU, @TCU, @ BU)
T3: OU 6-3 (UT, @BU, @OSU)
6. TCU 5-4 (@TTU, @OSU, @OU, @KSU)
7. TTU 3-6 (losses: @WVU, @OU, OSU, KSU, BU, @UT)
8. WVU 3-6 (wins: TTU, ISU)
9. ISU 1-9 (beat KU)
10. KU 1-9 (beat WVU)
Notes:
-TCU is kind of my wildcard. I see them losing to LSU which kind of starts a downward spiral in week 1. Will be a tough team to beat in the heart of conference play. Physical team.
-OSU is replacing 2 coordinators. Not easy, but I think the talent is there to win the conference.
-KSU losing to OU ends our chance of winning the big 12.
-Related: I feel like we have about a 50-50 chance against UT and about 35% against OSU. (we are coming off a bye.)
Let me hear it on how bad my predictos are...
EDIT: I made this predicitions based on Waters being the starting QB. However, I also accounted in that we would use Sams in certain situations. (ie. goal line, short yardage, taking drives if Waters were to be ineffective, etc.)
